The Chinese Foreign Ministry opened its English-language website at the beginning of the year, ministry spokesman Zhu Bangzao said at a regular press conference in Beijing January 4.

The new site will have information and various pages on the ministry, China's foreign policy, regional issues, backgrounders, and special reports on China's foreign affairs and policies on major regional and international issues.

The ministry opened its Chinese-language website on July 1, 1998.

The new English-language website can be accessed at: http://www. fmprc.gov.cn.